Once upon a time, pursuing an accounting degree was about attending lectures; maintaining respectful silence throughout; copying religiously or for the savvier ones, recording religiously whatever the Professor was saying; and the furious punching of calculators.

Today, accounting students learn very differently. Our faculty at the School of Accountancy constantly challenge their students with innovative and interactive approaches to teaching their respective accounting subjects. They employ a variety of learning tools to enhance the learning experience for their students, augmenting textbook learning with experimentation and application. We highlight some of our faculty Teaching Innovations below:

Process Costing Video

(Senior Lecturer Katherine Yuen)

Process costing is used to cost products which are homogenous in nature and mass manufactured. Examples of such products include instant noodles, bottle or can drinks, stationeries etc. To compute the cost per unit of each product is quite simple if there are no partially completed goods involved. However, in many cases, there are partially completed goods at the beginning of the period and/or at the end of the period. For example, making wine will usually take months or even years and different materials may be added at different timings during the manufacturing process. The key to deal with this complexity is to use a systematic five steps method of process costing calculations. Many students find the five steps to be daunting at first because of the need to deal with many different figures like equivalent units, costs spent in this period, costs spent in last period regarding beginning work in progress etc. The purpose of the video is to give an introduction of the steps involved through a relatively simple to understand example. All calculations are explained step by step by a professional narrator. Animations, all relevant figures and the narrated words are included in the video. Therefore, the video can be a stand-alone learning object to be played in class or watched at home by students. Students can pause, replay and watch a few times if necessary. The video helps students learn and enhance the fundamental steps of process costing calculations.

This Resource-Event-Agent (REA) Data Model eLearning Object aims to consolidate students' understanding of the REA data model. The REA Data Model is an important tool in Accounting Information Systems that facilitates data modelling. It helps a business to identify the data required to support the business processes by defining a set of economic resources, events and agents, and the relationships among them. The model can be used for a wide range of business processes, including the revenue and expenditure cycles.

There are 4 parts built into the eLearning object to address the following learning objectives:

- Explain the steps to develop a REA model

- Apply the rules to combine and implement a REA model

- Explain how an REA model can be translated into a Microsoft Access databas

ACE is a mobile learning app developed by the School of Accountancy. Students enhance their accounting knowledge in a fun way through fast-paced questions and answers.

The player has 100 seconds to answer a series of multiple choice questions. Each correct answer is awarded two points and one point is deducted for each incorrect answer. Students gain more time if they get the answers right within the first three seconds.

They can also gain more time through the two bonus rounds, which comprise different question types. They are also able to review their responses to learn from their mistakes. Students can post their scores to a Leader Board to compete among themselves.

Students have to prepare a 10 column worksheet and General Ledger for the activities of a fictitious company. The “company” will send out emails on a weekly basis with details and conversations on their daily transactions. Each student will receive a different email.

The application serves to generate unique authentic assignment scenarios for students to complete. It can function as a diagnostic, formative and/or summative assessment tool.

As the assignments are unique to each student, it can measure accurately students’ learning and also be used as trigger points for case-study discussion in and out of class.

Bringing Reality into Accounting Information Cycle: The Use of Accounting Process Scenarios and Business Software Applications

(Associate Professor (Education) Gary Pan)

Associate Professor (Education) Gary Pan, who teaches Accounting Information Systems to undergraduates and postgraduates, injects reality into class by encouraging creative application of business softwares in group projects and in-class activities.

Presented with various scenarios of various accounting cycles, students are required to apply the various softwares to perform business activities including: document accounting processes in visual maps; design and implement databases; process accounting transactions and generate financial statements; and last but not least, learn how an enterprise resource planning system supports internal organisational business processes.

Using Games to Engage Students

(Associate Professor Leong Kwong Sin)

Associate Professor Leong Kwong Sin, who teaches Management Accounting to undergraduates and Management Science to postgraduates, employs games in his lessons to simulate the real world application of accounting concepts.

Prof Leong developed the “Bidding Game” for his undergraduate course to simulate a competitive business environment where each project group in his class has to play the role of the bidding company. The game requires students to apply what they have learnt through the course to develop an effective bidding strategy.

Likewise, the “Modified Lom-Jiam-Pass Game” illustrates Game theory to his postgraduate students, where they are required to pit themselves against various opponents to attain the highest payoff.

Digital Storytelling Connects to Tech-Savvy Students

(Associate Professor (Practice) Themin Suwardy)

Associate Professor (Practice) Themin Suwardy, who teaches Financial Accounting, worked with CTE to develop the digital story Movies-Door-2-Door.Com as a supplementary resource in an introductory accounting course, at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Movies-Door-2-Door.Com revolves around 3 young graduates who decide to start a business together. The characters play out the logical order of an entrepreneurial endeavour – conducting market research, formulating a business plan, considering various ways to finance their business, and finally setting-up and running their business.

The digital story provides a unique platform through which Prof Suwardy can engage his students in the content, while facilitating meaningful discussion about the topics/concepts presented in the story.